Donated equipment provides new learning tools for Lakeland trades students

With a combined value of over $78,000, two recent donations from alumni and local industry will add a few new items to the tool chests of Lakeland College trades and apprenticeship students.

Greg Johnston of Tarpon Energy visited the college’s Vermilion campus Thursday, June 1 to donate $77,500 worth of industrial instrumentation equipment for students in the college’s instrumentation apprenticeship and pre-employment programs to use as part of their training. Over 50 pieces were received including several differential pressure transmitters, in-line gauge pressure transmitters and connection heads.

Johnston is a graduate of Lakeland College’s electrician program. Tarpon Energy is an active supporter of Lakeland students and programs. It hosts a number of trades students for practicum placements and contributes to the apprenticeship scholarship program.

Lakeland College received another donation recently from alumnus Stuart Snydmiller who gifted a Snap-on air conditioning recovery unit designed for mobile service work. The new piece of equipment will be used by students in the heavy equipment technician program during their fourth year of training as part of their hands-on practical work. The air-conditioning recovery unit has an appraised value of $1,139 and is a welcome addition to the college’s teaching equipment inventory.

Snydmiller graduated from Lakeland’s heavy equipment technician program in 2009.

Spring 2010